Canadian freestyle skier and current Olympic silver medalist, Mikaël Kingsbury, shared that he is close to full recovery from a left groin injury as he readies himself for the World Cup moguls event in Val St-Côme, Quebec. Kingsbury initially suffered the injury during training four months ago and had to withdraw from the men’s small final in early December in Ruka, Finland.
During a media call on Monday, Kingsbury expressed his satisfaction with his progress, mentioning that although he is not yet at 100%, he is nearing full health. He emphasized the importance of making wise decisions to ensure his readiness for the upcoming Olympic Games in Milan Cortina next month.
Kingsbury, who boasts 99 World Cup victories, is set to participate in the single moguls event on Friday night and will assess his health before committing to the dual moguls competition on Saturday. The 33-year-old skier has excelled on the challenging Val St-Côme course, achieving back-to-back wins in singles and dual moguls last February to extend his record to 96 World Cup victories. He is also a gold medalist in dual moguls at Val St-Côme in 2024.
Expressing his fondness for competing in front of his loved ones, Kingsbury highlighted the significance of Val St-Côme as a familiar training ground between races and a course where he has gained valuable experience in various conditions. In his pursuit of 100 career victories, Kingsbury acknowledged that achieving this milestone became a realistic goal three years ago and now finds himself just one win away from this significant achievement.
Following his groin injury last year, Kingsbury detailed his recovery process, which included treatments like ice therapy, heat therapy, physiotherapy, laser therapy, and red light therapy to aid in pain reduction, tissue healing, and blood flow enhancement. With the Winter Olympics approaching, Kingsbury recognizes the impact of his performance on aspiring athletes and aims to inspire the younger generation by staying true to his dreams and striving for excellence on the slopes.
Looking ahead, Kingsbury remains focused on his recovery and performance, with the next World Cup event scheduled in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, following the Val St-Côme competition. Despite the pressure to reach his 100th win, Kingsbury is determined to deliver his best performance and hopes to make a special achievement for his fans and supporters.